A new and weekly series of postings detailing the role of Historical Cortlandt in America!!

In honor of our 250th Anniversary, the Town of Cortlandt is creating a weekly series of postings about historic sites within our town. Cortlandt was founded 12 years after Independence, in 1788. But the original settlers came much earlier, in the 17th century.  The Town of Cortlandt played a major part in the fight for freedom and the founding of our country. Each week, we will showcase a different location within Cortlandt, providing the historical significance of each with photographs and descriptions.

PLEASE HELP US…if you know of historically significant areas in your part of town, please let us know! Send us the locations and what you know about them. Provide information and photographs. We will choose one area each week to highlight. Don’t be discouraged if it takes some time for us to post about your area; it is a big town of almost 50 square miles, with a tremendous treasure trove of history. But we have the whole year! Send your suggestions to TOC250@townofcortlandtny.gov.

We are grateful for the input of the Van Cortlandt Historical Society’s Jeff Canning and Hendrick Hudson’s Living History Teacher Joseph Ryan for their professional assistance. 

Here's our first posting: The Little Red School House, on Locust Avenue, just south of Oregon Road. It is now the home of the Van Cortlandtville Historical Society.

WHERE HISTORY LIVES PART 1: The Little Red Schoolhouse

The Little Red Schoolhouse was erected in 1772 as a Baptist Church and remained a church until 1814, when it was converted into a one-room school house. It served as a school continuously from 1814 until 1935 , and then again from 1952 thru 1972, serving as a kindergarten-- as part of the Lakeland Central School District. In 1989, it was officially recognized on both the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. It subsequently became the home and meeting place of The Van Cortlandville Historical Society, which began conducting its Early School Days program at the Schoolhouse in 1975, to enable local fourth graders to experience classroom life in the 1840s. Thus, it provided the rare opportunity for young learners to step into a preserved piece of educational history. The schoolroom and adjoining meeting room of the Society has books, photographs and classroom items dating back to that early era.

-Richard H. Becker, M.D.
Supervisor,
Town of Cortlandt

WHERE HISTORY LIVES PART 2: KING'S FERRY

Verplanck was an extremely busy place for several days in August 1781 as American and French soldiers crossed the Hudson River to Stony Point via the King’s Ferry. Two months later those soldiers, with the aid of a French fleet, would deliver a decisive blow against the British in Yorktown, VA, during the fight for the independence of the United States.

Here is the story: During the war troops, arms and supplies from the northern colonies, had to cross the Hudson to fight in the south. King’s Ferry was the key crossing point across the Hudson. 

The French army, commanded by the Comte de Rochambeau arrived in Westchester County on July 6, 1781. This massive effort and challenging crossing happened between August 20 and 26, 1781.
This successful crossing of the river, allowed the necessary troops and supplies to head south, that eventually led to the Oct. 19 surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va. 

This helped convince the government in London that pouring additional resources into suppressing the revolution was fruitless.

Re-enactors from the Brigade of the American Revolution camped at Verplanck’s Point Aug. 25-27, 2006, to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the crossing.

A highlight of the weekend was the dedication of a plaque with the following inscription near the water’s edge in Verplanck: “In grateful remembrance. Dedicated to the soldiers of the Continental and French armies who crossed the Hudson River here at King’s Ferry August 20-26, 1781 on their march to victory at Yorktown, Va. May their sacrifices and hardships never be forgotten, the liberty and independence they fought for never be taken for granted and may the spirit of their patriotism burn within our hearts forever. Erected at Verplanck’s Point by the patriotic citizens of the Town of Cortlandt on August 26, 2006 during the 225th anniversary of the American War for Independence.”

-Richard H. Becker, M.D.
Supervisor,
Town of Cortlandt

WHERE HISTORY LIVES PART 2: Old St. Peter's Church and Old Cemetery

Old St. Peter's Church and Old Cemetery, also known as St. Peter's Church of Cortlandt is a historic Episcopal church and cemetery at Oregon Road and Locust Avenue in Van Cortlandtville, Westchester County, New York. The church was built in 1766 and measures 28 feet by 36 feet. It is a wood-frame building sheathed in clapboards and was restored in 1964. 

This cemetery is located at the intersection of Locust Ave and Oregon Road in Cortlandt Manor. There are several historic roadside markers around this old graveyard. Located in the cemetery is a small red clapboard building The Old St Peters Episcopal Church. Services in this building were attended by General George Washington at times when he stayed nearby. This building was also used as an Army Hospital from 1781–1782 by French General Rochambeau before and after The Battle of Yorktown Virginia 1781-2. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 with reference number 73001292. Buried beside the church are unnamed graves of French troops of General Rochambeau and 44 unnamed soldiers of the Revolution. In the churchyard there is an anvil monument dedicated to Major General Seth Pomeroy. The monument is constructed of black granite, is 5' 8" high, and weighs over 6.5 tons. When the American Revolution ended, the great pioneer migration to the West began. The Pomeroy Anvil Trail commemorates the westward migration of the American people through the movement of the Pomeroy family. His burial site in the graveyard is unmarked.

The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 with reference number 73001292. The documentation itself, dated 2003, describes one contributing site (the cemetery) and one contributing object, in addition to the already listed one contributing building of the property.

-Richard H. Becker, M.D.
Supervisor,
Town of Cortlandt

WHERE HISTORY LIVES PART 4: THE VAN CORTLANDTVILLE SKIRMISH OF MARCH 1777

Summary/Overview: The Van Cortlandtville Skirmish was fought on March 24, 1777 between American patriot troops commanded by Lt. Col. Marinus Willett and a British raiding party commanded by Lt. Col. John Bird in modern-day Cortlandt,  during the American Revolutionary War. British troops marched up the Post Road (later known as Hillside Avenue and Oregon Road) to the Twin Hills, just south of the Van Cortlandt family’s Upper Manor House, where McDougall had posted an advance guard. The battle ended in American victory, with the British withdrawing back to their boats.

The Details: After being pushed out of New York City in 1776, George Washington established his headquarters in Peekskill along the Hudson River. He considered the area critical for keeping the Continental Army supplied. The British were well-aware, and in late March 1777, 500 British troops sailed up the Hudson River to raid Patriot farms and burn supplies. They landed at Peekskill Bay on March 23 and began pummeling Brig. Gen. Alexander McDougall‘s 250-man force on Fort Hill with artillery. Control of the Hudson River Valley was the linchpin between New England and the more southerly colonies, and the Hudson was the main street of New York. Washington considered this locale so important that it became a major assembly area for troops and militia as well as arms and supplies. The area was critical for the movement of men and materiel up and down the river, east into New England or west and south via the King’s Ferry between nearby Verplanck and Stony Point.

Washington’s worst fears were realized when in early 1777 the British sent a fleet of more than a dozen ships and smaller craft under the command of Col. Bird, to Peekskill, which had been established by Washington the previous November as the command post and headquarters for the Hudson Valley. Bird’s fleet appeared in Peekskill Bay around noon on Sunday, March 23 with 500 men. After burning a house owned by the Lent family the British troops marched up the Post Road and took up positions on Drum Hill, where they began firing at the settlement and the American positions on Fort Hill. Brig. Gen. Alexander McDougall, in charge of the 250-member American Highland Command, outnumbered 2-1, As the 500-man British forces advanced, they  destroyed American barracks, workshops and storehouses.  On Monday, March 24, the British troops marched up the Post Road (later known as Hillside Avenue and Oregon Road) to the Twin Hills, just south of the Van Cortlandt family’s Upper Manor House, where McDougall had posted an advance guard.

Meanwhile, American Colonial Willett led 80 men to join McDougall at the Gallows Hill barracks. There he observed a British detachment that was separated from the rest of the troops by a ravine, and he implored McDougall to attack them. While other Americans created a diversion to the west,  Colonel Willet ordered his 80 men to fix bayonets and attacked the eastern flank of the British. Willett’s troops overwhelmed the British with the unexpected assault, sniping at them from behind trees and stone walls. Aided by darkness the British fled back to Fort Hill. After waiting for the full moon to rise, the entire invasion force retreated to its ships and sailed back to New York the next day. McDougall returned to Peekskill and reoccupied the Fort Hill redoubts and the settlement. Willett’s counterattack left nine British dead and four wounded. Four more British were killed while trying to burn American boats at Canopus Creek The colonel reported two men killed and four or five wounded. 

McDougall wrote to George Washington: “…the Enemy fled with great precipitation to the main Body. They were panic struck, asserted the Woods were full of Rebel Soldiers.” The British slipped away in their boats the next morning. A few months later, at Van Cortlandtville, his men provided material for an early version of the U.S. flag, possibly its first use in battle.

-Richard H. Becker, M.D.
Supervisor,
Town of Cortlandt

Where History Lives Part 5: Pleasantside Chapel

Pleasantside is a small hill to the west of Lafayette Avenue and Maple Avenues. in Cortlandt Manor, that later lent its name to the hamlet of Pleasantside.

The Pleasantside Chapel was erected in 1882, designed in a romantic, gothic style. It was in continuous use from 1882 thru the early 1940’s. 

It was reopened in 1949 by Marion Perry, who ran it until she grew too old (now deceased) and many in the photograph above attended there. When she was no longer able, she turned it over to her son, Alan Perry, who selflessly paid to have it painted and repaired (roof, windows, etc.) and keep the land clean, grass cut etc. While not in regular use it was never "abandoned".  
-Richard H. Becker, M.D.
Supervisor,
Town of Cortlandt

Where History Lives Part 6: The Post Hannock House

The Post Hannock House is where George Washington presented medals to the captors of Major John André, a British officer who conspired with Benedict Arnold to capture the American Fort in Garrison.

Here is a brief summary: it involves  Benedict Arnold and Major André, and It all happened 246 years ago-- during the fifth year of the American Revolution. For a few days in 1780, the fate of the nation hung in the balance. 
We all know that Benedict Arnold was a traitor. In fact, the name Benedict Arnold, and the name traitor, have become synonymous.   American Benedict Arnold conspired with British Major Andre to make possible the capture of the fortifications at West Point & the Hudson Highlands.
When the plot was discovered, Major Andre was captured and executed. Those who captured him received medals directly from George Washington,  at the Post Hannock House, here in Cortlandt, in the Hamlet of Verplanck.

Benedict Arnold was an American General and hero of the Battle of Valcourt Island and Saratoga.  Because of his success, he was placed in charge of the Fort in Garrison, a very strategic point along the Hudson River-- now known as West Point. In Washington's words, West Point was the “key to America.” Having decided to “switch sides” and betray the American cause, Arnold wanted to complete his treacherous final plans to sell  West Point to the British. To make this deal, he conspired with the British officer Maj. Andre. Major John André, then 29 years old, was Deputy Adjutant General to Sir Henry Clinton, Commander of British land forces in America south of Canada, and headed Clinton's cloak‐and‐dagger operations. From his New York headquarters, André had been corresponding with Benedict Arnold since June, 1779, through a series of coded letters. Arnold called himself "Gustavus" to hide his identity. 

Benedict Arnold and British major André planned their rendezvous.  André the Spy arrived on the British ship Vulture, and landed on September 21, 1780. Arnold and André conferred until dawn when André was supposed to return to H.M.S. Vulture. However, American Col. James Livingston, who was in command of an American position on the opposite side of the river, opened fire on the Vulture, damaging the vessel and forcing her captain to drop downstream to the Tappan Zee. This stranded André.
Benedict Arnold provided Maj. Andre with a pass allowing “John Anderson,” André's code name, to pass American outposts. Andre took Arnold's written plans for treachery and, hid them in a stocking!!
Fate was with the Americans, and not with Andre. On September 23, 1780 New York Militiamen John Paulding, Isaac van Wart and David Williams suspected something was wrong and  Andre was taken into the bushes, stripped, searched, and relieved of his geld watch and the hidden treacherous papers.

Washington was presented with André's letter and the incriminating Arnold papers. Washington,  who now made his headquarters in Tappan at the DeWint House, a Dutch colonial farmhouse built in 1700, wanted to make an example of Arnold and Andre. Alexander Hamilton quarreled With Washington over his mode of death. André wrote Washington requesting a firing squad, but Washington felt compelled to make an example of him. He would be hanged.  André was executed by hanging on Oct. 2,1780. 

Meanwhile, when Arnold heard about the capture of André, he went upstairs to tell his wife Peggy the jig was up. He then came down to say he was needed at the Point, ordered his horse and galloped down the slope across the road to the river. He continued his escape and commandeered a barge and its crew. Leaving his wife and child behind, he ordered the crew to row him out to the British ship, “The Vulture,” which was now anchored out of range of West Point artillery. Arnold escaped, joined the enemy and fought with the British forces against Americans in Virginia and Connecticut. He remained a traitor as an officer of the British. He had successfully escaped and was never captured.

George Washington personally presented Maj. Andre’s captors with meritorious medals, here in Cortlandt, at the Post Hannock House.  An historic marker was installed in 1999 to commemorate the location. It is located on Kings Ferry Road, in the Hamlet of Verplanck, New York.

-Richard H. Becker, M.D.
Supervisor,
Town of Cortlandt

Where History Lives Part 7: The Kennedy House 

Location. 41° 14.996′ N, 73° 56.765′ W.  The Historic Marker is in Montrose, New York, in Westchester County. It is at the intersection of Kings Ferry Road and Tate Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Kings Ferry Road. The Marker is located in front of the Hendrick Hudson Free Library.

"The Kennedy House incorporated a fully developed Federal style with transom and sidelight, parallel lintels on the second-floor windows and quarter-round quadrant windows at the attic level.”

The imposingly large Kennedy House had been built in the 1750's, contained 11 rooms and four fireplaces. It should properly have been called the Corme House, having been built for Peter Corme, openly a loyalist during the Revolution. The Corme name was pronounced locally as "Cor-ney" and sometimes written with an accented final letter--the French accent aigu (é). A stubborn, die-hard Tory, Peter Corme's name appears frequently in records during the Revolution and newspapers all contain references to him, including three jail sentences served because of his passionate allegiance to George III in the faces of Rebel committeemen. It took its name from Dennis Kennedy, son-in law of Peter Corme, who had owned it and lived in it during the Revolution.

In its life of more than two centuries, the Kennedy House knew many famous visitors:

1)    On July 18 and 19, 1778, two sessions of the court-martial of Gen. Charles Lee met "at the house of Mr. Kennedy at Peeks-Kill." General Lee was charged with disobedience, retreating before the enemy and disrespect. Sessions of the court were held at the Kennedy House in order to interview witnesses now stationed in the area. The proceedings then moved to North Castle, where the verdict was rendered: guilty on all three counts. Despite the seriousness of the charges, Gen. Lee received a remarkably light sentence: suspension from command for 12 months.
2)    George Washington was in the Cortlandt area on five occasions totaling 20 days between 1776 and 1781. He stayed at Peekskill's Birdsall House in 1780 when he met with Benedict Arnold; a week later, he would learn of Arnold's treason. On other visits, Washington made his headquarters at the Upper Manor House on Oregon Road. Going to and from the King's Ferry he visited  the Kennedy House.
3)    Returning from a mission to General Horatio Gates at Peekskill,  Alexander Hamilton lay ill for 2 weeks with rheumatic fever at "Mr. Kennedy's House."  Lt.Col. Alexander Hamilton wrote a letter to Gen. Washington there on November 15, 1777. He was nursed back to health at the Kennedy House before his return to Washington’s headquarters.

A sad end:  On Tuesday morning, January 16, 1979, a fire erupted and  neighbors reported smoke pouring from the unoccupied Kennedy House at 185 King's Ferry Road. An alarm was sounded immediately, and fire companies from Montrose, Verplanck and Buchanan responded. For four hours they fought the stubborn blaze that gutted the building, one of the oldest in this part of Westchester. Nothing survives today from the venerable house in Montrose *** The Hendrick Hudson Free Library occupies the site today.***

LEARN MORE: Peter Corne married  Elizabeth Henderson and they had three daughters. On Sunday, June 23, 1773, Letitia, the eldest, married Dennis Kennedy,  in Manhattan's Lutheran Church.. Dennis Kennedy is an important figure in the Dyckman family history and the Boscobel story. Facts about Dennis Kennedy are scarce. We know that the couple had a daughter named Elizabeth, born May 1, 1776. She was called Betsey--although she always signed herself Elizabeth. How Dennis Kennedy acquired the house during the Revolution when Peter Corne turned it over to his son-in-law.  Crone was attempting to keep his Westchester property from being confiscated under anti-Tory laws. Because Corne later refused to take the oath of allegiance to the revolutionary government, the Fishkill Committee on March 20, 1777, ordered him to go "with his Family, apparel & household furniture" behind the British lines within 20 days. Corne asked that "his Son in Law Dennis Kennedy" be allowed to live on his [Corne's] farm to care for his property until its disposition could be decided. By then Kennedy had taken the oath of allegiance and was grinding flour for the American army. The committee offered no objection.


Richard H. Becker, M.D.
Supervisor

Where History Lives Part 8: JOHN PATTERSON AKA: JOHN PETERSON OR "RIFLE JACK" PETERSON AFRICAN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO 1746-1850 (AGE 103) 

Buried in Bethel Cemetery (Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester County) lies an African American patriot who risked everything for his country’s Independence. He served three years as a Continental soldier in Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt’s 2nd New York Regiment and fought with them at the battles of Saratoga, Monmouth, and Newtown, and he also survived the terrible winter encampments at Valley Forge and Morristown. He subsequently served as a Nine Month Levee under Colonel Albert Pawling, and as a militiaman under Cols. Drake and Hamman in the 1st Westchester Militia. He distinguished himself locally in vicious skirmishes at Purchase and Croton Point. 
Sometime during his militia service he was captured, imprisoned in New York, and somehow managed to escape. After the war he labored and raised a large family on a piece of property in the Town of Cortlandt. He lived to be 103 years old. Military records and historical documents also refer to him under the name Peterson. His descendants continue to reside in the area.

Learn More:
In 1845, Judge John MacDonald interviewed John Patterson. You can read his handwritten notes of the interview here: (See PDF) 

Note: history and additional information provided by: Edmund Riely and Rosemarie Schmidt.